Description

Chateau Haut Brion 1986Pessac-Leognan
Bottle (8)"This wine continues to be backward, but the bouquet is
beginning to develop secondary nuances from roasted herbs and sweet
cigar tobacco to compost, leathery notes, along with plenty of
sweet cherry and black currant fruit. I had somewhat higher hopes
for it a decade ago. The wine is still youthful, quite pure, medium
to full-bodied, but somewhat elevated, austere tannins in the
finish at age 16 are starting to make me think they will never
become fully integrated." (94pts Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book, 4th
Ed., Jan 2003)

"Mirroring the 1996 La Mission, in this vintage that Haut-Brion
occupies a higher quality level, with more complexity and vivacity
on the nose: dusky black fruit, warm gravel, terracotta and cigar
humidor. Lovely! The palate is very well balanced, maybe a little
rustic compared to recent vintages, yet with firm body and grip.
It's the kind of gruff, almost surly, broad-shouldered 1986s that
might be a little curmudgeonly compared to 1985 or 1989, however
after 30 years you are compensated with plenty of freshness and
focus." (93 pts. Neal Martin, Wine Advocate #228, Dec. 2016)